Air India’s inquiry committee set up to probe the midair cockpit scuffle has established that the cockpit was never left unmanned during the elaborate fistfight.
“The investigation has established that safety was never compromised during the flight and the cockpit was never left
unmanned,” said Jitender Bhargav, executive director, (Public Relations), Air India.
Two pilots and cabin crew of an Air India IC 844 from Sharjah to Delhi flight brawled at 30,000 ft after a stewardess accused a co-pilot of sexual harassment.
On Sunday, Delhi Police had registered cases against the pilots after the female cabin crew leveled molestation charges against them Bhargav said the report on the alleged molestation would be made public on Tuesday after the management goes through it.
According to an AI official who didn’t wish to be named, if found guilty those involved could be downgraded from their ranks or could even face termination from service.
“The management will ascertain the breach of discipline and also the quantum punishment,” the official said.
Soon after the incident on Saturday morning, Air India constituted a three-member inquiry committee. The fact-finding team also questioned an engineer and some others who were on board.
The airline had taken a serious view of this incident, which raised a question mark on air safety and decorum of its staff. Air India has already suspended the two pilots and the two crewmembers who were allegedly involved in the incident.